Ron Hickman, who has been teaching tai chi for last one decade, has launched a free tai chi class at the Moorpark Active Adult Center to help people improve cardiovascular health, flexibility, range of motion and balance.

The teacher explains that the art consists of a series of 108 movements which has to be performed in a particular sequence and it actually helps the practitioners to calm their minds and allowing a sense of peace to be instilled.

If one keeps on practicing it for a long time then it purifies one’s vital energy by opening oneself to a spiritual dimension.

The symbol of Yin-Yang is used to represent tai chi in which Yang is the active element and Yin the passive one.

Peggy Rothschild, Supervisor of Moorpark Active Adult Center said, “Tai chi combines a type of meditative relaxation process, which benefits both the body and mind. Tai chi can be especially beneficial to those with arthritis or people who are recovering from injury or someone who needs a low-impact form of exercise”.

Hickman is teaching at the Simi Valley Senior Center and he believes that it improves strength, coordination, flexibility, balance and quality of sleep.